Beutler won half the prize along with Jules A. Hoffmann for
their discoveries about the activation of innate immunity. The
other half went to Ralph Steinman, "for his discovery of the
dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity".

"Beutler, who holds a B.A. from the University of California,
San Diego, and an M.D. from the University of Chicago, has
spearheaded the use of a technique called "forward genetics" to
study genes used by the mammalian innate immune system to clear
pathogens from the body. Beutler is credited with the
identification of the key receptors that inform the body when an
infection is present. The same receptors also initiate inflammation
and shock when an infection becomes widespread. Together with his
colleagues at Scripps Research, Beutler has continued to analyze
these receptors, and has pursued an ambitious search for all
proteins that protect mammals against defined infections.